Growing Pickerelweed

Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) is an easily grown pond marginal or submerged plant that flowers with delightful blue flowers. This North American native belongs in every pond or water garden and here's how to grow it.

Hardiness

Unless you live very near the arctic circle, you should be able to grow this plant. Think a tough USDA zone 2-3 plant.

Growing Conditions

Full sun. It will grow nicely in part shade as well although you may find it stretches a bit or reduces flowering in these areas where sunlight gets a little sparse.

Plant in constantly wet soil or up to one-foot deep on the edges of the pond. Do not plant deeper than this.

Cut down dead foliage in the fall after frost has knocked it back.

Propagation

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Division in the very early spring is the best. Knock it out of the pot or dig it up and divide as per any other perennial plant. Leave an "eye" or two and some root and replant. This is a tough plant so don't worry about begin gentle.

You can also do cuttings in early spring or sow seed (keep the seed damp at all times in moist sand) and it will germinate in the next spring.

Pickerel Weed is indeed a wonderful plant for any pond.

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Pickerelweed